GULMARG TOURISM | TOURIST PLACES TO VISIT & TRAVEL GUIDE TO GULMARG
Hill Station
About Gulmarg
Country: India | State: Jammu & Kashmir
#100 of 5 Places to visit in Jammu & Kashmir
Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days
Nearest City to Gulmarg: Srinagar (58 Kms), Jammu (313 Kms)
Best Time to Visit Gulmarg: December to June
Peak Season: December to February & April to June
At a distance of 36 km from Baramulla, 58 km from Srinagar, 121 km from Sonmarg, 135 km from Pahalgam, 197 km from Patni Top, 246 km from Udhampur, 313 km from Jammu, 375 km from Pathankot, 423 km from Dalhousie, 456 km from Dharamshala, and 844 km from Delhi, Gulmarg is a stunning hill station, and a notified area committee in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Lies in a cup-shaped valley in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas, it is one of the popular places to visit in Jammu & Kashmir and among the popular skiing destinations in India.
Situated at an altitude of 2730 m, Gulmarg is one of the top honeymoon destinations in India. This pristine hill town has also been developed as an adventure hub as the Indian Institute of Skiing, and Mountaineering is located here. A lot of courses on trekking, mountaineering, skiing, and snowboarding are offered by IISM. There are a lot of other private tour operators in Gulmarg as well, which provide similar courses and facilities for skiing and snowboarding. This alluring tourist destination in the Kashmir valley is great for both a family, honeymoon, and snow adventure sports lovers.
Originally called Gauri Marg ('the path of Devi Gauri') in the 1500s, Yousuf Shah Chak, who ruled Kashmir from 1579 to 1586, frequented the place with his queen Habba Khatoon and renamed it 'Gulmarg' ('meadow of flowers') in the 16th century. During the 19th century, British civil servants started using Gulmarg as a retreat to escape summers in the North Indian plains. After the end of British rule in India, Gulmarg became a part of the independent princely state of Kashmir & Jammu. Pakistan demanded to take control of Gulmarg under the invasion called, Operation Gulmarg and was captured by the invaders. However, Indian troops defended the region counterattacking and recapturing Gulmarg. Later in the 1960s, the destination slowly turned into a tourism attraction by developing numerous winter sports.
Regarded as one of the best skiing destinations in India, Gulmarg is adorned with lofty snow-capped mountains, lush greenery, small lakes, and a wide variety of flowers. Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve, Alpather Lake, Ningle Nallah, Ferozepur Nallah, Shiva Temple, Shrine of Baba Reshi, Saint Mary's Church, Maharani Temple, Drung Waterfall, Kongdoori, Gulmarg Golf Course, etc., are some of the popular tourist places to visit in Gulmarg. Gulmarg also has the world's second-highest Gondola ride. Due to its mesmerizing scenic beauty, Gulmarg has also been a popular destination for shooting various Bollywood films.
Christmas, and Eid are celebrated with great gusto by the locals in Gulmarg. Besides, Winter Festival is another event celebrated every year with much fervor in Gulmarg. Started in 2003, this event aims to promote and encourage winter sports and tourism in Gulmarg that attract tourists from all over the world and showcase the enchanting valleys through various sports and activities such as skiing, snowboarding, snow-sledging, and ice skating. Besides, Budding artists in the fields of music, film, and photography are also allowed to showcase their work during this event.
About 55 km from Srinagar, Sheikh ul Alam Airport, Srinagar is the nearest airport that has direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, and Chandigarh. From here, one can reach Gulmarg by bus or cab. Jammu Tawi Railway Station is the nearest railhead which is 313 km from Gulmarg that has well-connected trains from Kalka, Ahmedabad, Jabalpur, Udhampur, Bandra, Kota, Tirunelveli, Prayagraj, New Delhi, Bhavnagar, and Jamnagar. Gulmarg is well-connected by buses with Srinagar, Sonmarg, and other neighboring towns in Kashmir.
Being one of the most popular skiing destinations, it has limited ski resorts at the top of Gulmarg with the upper price range which feature a serene ambiance and offer top-notch amenities, cozy rooms, and amazing mountain views. However, there are limited resorts One can find several budget hotels, homestays, and guesthouses near the bus stand area that offer decent rooms with all modern amenities and hospitality. Visitors can also find many budget-friendly options in the nearby towns of Tangmarg, Kunzer, etc.
April to June is the ideal time to visit Gulmarg when the weather is pleasant as the snow melts down and the temperature is not so cold. However, if you want to experience snowfall & try your hand at skiing, the period between December & mid-March is recommended.
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